You know you're a writer if...

[tlm]

Laugh at things in movies that nobody else gets.

Sounds corny, but I was watching 321 Penguins Saturday morning (Saturday morning cartoons--I don't know if that is a tradition everywhere else or just a U. S. thing).

--Anyway the scientist built a new defense beam, a ray gun. It shot the Harryhausen Ray, causing the victim to move in stop action.

Accurately predict events, character traits, actual lines before they occur.

I had The Sixth Sense figured out within about 10 minutes, but still enjoyed the movie because I really like his style of storytelling.

[Cymrugirl]

* when your dog runs away because he thinks you're boring

* when you play Scrabble for blood

* when you lose the ability to recognize rhetorical questions

Example: Phone call: "Hey, whatcha up to?" You: "Well, I was doing an internet cross-reference of a manual on automotive repair to find out if Mitsubishi stopped mass-producing encoded dashboard microchips in 1982 or 1983 and found this entry on a fascinating skin fungi that ran rampant during the latter half of world war II...." etc., etc., etc.

[flov1943]

...you keep a notepad and pen in your purse (or pocket) and jot down interesting life stories or dialogue when around lots of people

...you sit and observe folks for hours on end and as usualy take notes

...you hear a song on the radio and start imagining what a great story it would make

...you are overly critical of some folks writing when others (non-writers) think they are great

[Ransom v. Unman]

* when your dog runs away because he thinks you're boring

My cats get the most pathetic looks on their faces when they want to play and I'm writing.

Or playing Lord of the Rings Online.

* when you play Scrabble for blood

A tradition in my household... but strangely, my mom who usually instigates this, isn't a writer...

* when you lose the ability to recognize rhetorical questions

Example: Phone call: "Hey, whatcha up to?" You: "Well, I was doing an internet cross-reference of a manual on automotive repair to find out if Mitsubishi stopped mass-producing encoded dashboard microchips in 1982 or 1983 and found this entry on a fascinating skin fungi that ran rampant during the latter half of world war II...." etc., etc., etc.

Yeah, I've never really been able to do that either.

I get a lot of strange looks for taking "whatcha' doin'" as a serious question.

...you keep a notepad and pen in your purse (or pocket) and jot down interesting life stories or dialogue when around lots of people

I've lost count at how many journals I've filled up... And I take them everywhere.

...you are overly critical of some folks writing when others (non-writers) think they are great

Overly critical? Those talentless sods are still writing, aren't they!? We're obviously not being critical enough!

(I'm looking at you, Patterson!)

[Bronwyn]

....when you read the newspaper obituaries to pick up character ideas.
....when a writing project so absorbs you, your husband says you're "distant".
....when you're addicted to playing Scrabble on the internet, because you love words.
....when the oiled wood smell of your oak roll top desk gets your creative juices going.
....when you tell yourself stories to put yourself to sleep at night.
....when you see something so beautiful or awesome, all you can think of is writing about it.
....when writing brings you such a sense of joy and fulfillment, you know it is what God has called you and gifted you to do.